I'm a little confused about how this happened in the first place. Didn't the bill have a property address on it that you could've checked against your own address? Or a parcel number or something? Not trying to blame you, just wondering if there were any warning signs that might have prevented this.

This is a frustrating situation that unfortunately highlights gaps in how many tax offices handle identity verification. Since you own multiple properties and there's another Thomas Wilson who also owns multiple properties in the same county, the tax office really should have been more careful about verification. Here's what I'd recommend based on similar cases I've seen: 1. **File a formal written complaint** with your county's Board of Supervisors or equivalent governing body. Include all documentation showing you requested your bill by name and address, and that they provided the wrong one. 2. **Request an "erroneous payment transfer"** - this is different from a refund and specifically addresses payments made to the wrong account due to administrative error. Most counties have procedures for this even if front-line staff don't know about them. 3. **Document the systemic problem** - emphasize that their identification process failed when dealing with common names and multiple property owners. This isn't just about your money, it's about preventing this from happening to others. 4. **Consider small claims court** as a last resort if administrative remedies fail. You have documentation that you requested your specific bill and they provided the wrong one. The key is framing this as their procedural failure rather than just a payment mix-up. Good luck!

I think you're overthinking this tbh. If the void box was checked on the original, you're fine. That's literally what the void box is for - to tell the IRS to ignore that form. The casino's system will only report the non-voided form to the IRS. I've had this happen 3 times (slot attendants make mistakes A LOT) and never had an issue with double reporting.

I work as a tax preparer and see W2-G issues frequently. Here's what I always tell my clients: definitely request that Wage and Income Transcript around March to verify what's actually on file with the IRS. Even though the casino checked the void box, I've seen cases where both forms still ended up being transmitted to the IRS due to system errors. Also keep both the voided form AND the reprint in your records. If there's ever a discrepancy, you'll need both documents to prove the situation. The IRS will want to see the voided form with the void box checked and the reprint with the same winning amount to understand why there might be duplicate entries in their system. Most importantly, when you file your return, only report the amount from the valid (reprinted) W2-G. Don't try to "offset" or account for potential double reporting on your return - that just creates more confusion. If the transcript shows a problem, deal with it then through proper channels.

No deduction for regular flooring, but if you're REPLACING flooring damaged by something like a natural disaster or sudden pipe burst that insurance didn't fully cover, you might be able to claim a casualty loss. Doesn't apply to normal wear and tear though!

Great question! Unfortunately, as others have mentioned, regular flooring replacement in your primary residence isn't tax deductible. Since your tiles were just old and cosmetic (not damaged by a covered event), this falls under personal home improvements. However, definitely keep all those receipts! That $7,100 total ($4,300 + $2,800) will increase your home's tax basis, which can save you money on capital gains tax when you eventually sell. It's not an immediate deduction, but it's still valuable long-term. One thing to double-check - if you have any home office space where the new tiles were installed, you might be able to deduct a small portion as a business expense if you qualify for the home office deduction. But for the majority of your flooring project, you'll want to file those receipts away for future sale documentation. The good news is your home probably looks amazing with the new flooring, even if Uncle Sam won't help with the immediate costs!

yall need to stop stressing and use taxr.ai - literally tells you exactly whats wrong and what to do. saved me so much time instead of calling irs 100 times

I went through this exact same verification process last month! The key thing is to act quickly - I called the verification line at 800-830-5084 and they were able to verify my identity over the phone with basic questions about my tax history and personal info. The whole call took maybe 15 minutes once I got through. After verification, it took exactly 21 days for my refund to process and hit my account. During that time, I kept checking my transcript through the "View Tax Records" section you mentioned - that's where you'll see the updates first before your main account dashboard shows anything. Definitely turn on those email notifications! I got an email update when my return moved from "under review" to "refund approved" which was super helpful. The verification delay is annoying but pretty routine - they're just making sure everything matches up. You should be good to go once you complete the phone verification!

One more tip: If u have an irs account online (irs.gov) you can access your tax transcripts which often show refund info before Where's My Refund updates. Look for a code 846 with a date - thats ur refund date! Just be warned the transcript is confusing af to read but there's lot of youtube videos explaining how to read it. Way better than refreshing WMR every 5 minutes lol.

Great thread! Just wanted to add another option for those still struggling to track their refunds. If you used Jackson Hewitt and opted for a refund advance or had fees deducted, your refund might be processed through Axos Bank (formerly Bank of Internet USA). You can check the status at their taxpayer portal: https://www.axosbank.com/Personal/Checking/Refund-Transfer Also, for anyone who used Liberty Tax, they typically use Republic Bank as well, same site that Aurora mentioned above. One thing I learned the hard way last year - if you're checking multiple clearing house sites and none of them have your info, that usually means your refund is going directly from the IRS to your bank without a third-party processor. In that case, the IRS tools and your bank are your best bet for tracking!